to: extend the regulatory regime for remittance dealers and providers of remittance networks; and expand the agencies with which Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) can share financial intelligence;

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006

and

Privacy Act 1988

to enable reporting entities to use credit reporting data to verify the identity of their customers; and

Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988

to enable the Chief Executive Officer of AUSTRAC to exempt a person from provisions of the Act.

The bill: requires civil litigants to file a genuine steps statement before legal proceedings are instituted in the Federal Court or the Federal Magistrates Court; sets out the powers of court in relation to the genuine steps requirements and awarding costs; and provides that certain categories of legal proceedings are excluded proceedings.

The bill: requires civil litigants to file a genuine steps statement before legal proceedings are instituted in the Federal Court or the Federal Magistrates Court; sets out the powers of court in relation to the genuine steps requirements and awarding costs; and provides that certain categories of legal proceedings are excluded proceedings.

with a new offence of torture in the Criminal Code to fulfil Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and

Death Penalty Abolition Act 1973

to provide that the death penalty cannot be reintroduced anywhere in Australia. Also repeals the

to: enable seized material to be used by, and shared between, Commonwealth, state and territory law enforcement agencies; allow law enforcement agencies to access and search electronic equipment; and preserve the right of a person accused of a federal offence in Victoria to appeal a finding that he or she is unfit to plead;

Witness Protection Act 1994

to: clarify the application of the Act to witnesses involved in state and territory matters; update the concept of identity; extend protection to former participants and related persons; and update and extend the scope of non-disclosure offences;

Criminal Code Act 1995

and

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979

to: introduce offences into the Criminal Code to target persons involved in serious and organised crime; and ensure that telecommunications interception warrants are available for the investigation of the new offences;

Criminal Code Act 1995

and

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006

to: extend the geographical jurisdiction and the scope of money laundering offences; and expand AUSTRAC’s ability to take enforcement action against non-complying reporting entities;

Australian Crime Commission Act 2002

to: expand the Australian Crime Commission’s powers to deal with uncooperative witnesses; clarify procedural powers for issuing summons and notices to produce; and require a five-yearly review of the operation of the Act;

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

,

Surveillance Devices Act 2004

and

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979

to make consequential amendments; and

Criminal Code Act 1995

to: increase the penalties for bribing foreign and Commonwealth public officials; and provide that drug importation offences apply to offenders engaged in activity connected to the importation of drugs into Australia. Also amends 23 Acts consequent upon the joint commission offence being included in the Criminal Code; and amends 20 Acts consequent on provisions of the

to: remove the six-year limit on orders for non-conviction-based restraint and forfeiture of proceeds of crime; provide for non-conviction-based restraint and forfeiture of instruments of serious crime; enable the disclosure of certain information; and enable legal aid commissions to recover certain costs from the Confiscated Assets Account;

Crimes Act 1914

and

Customs Act 1901

to: harmonise the controlled operations, assumed identities and protection of witness identity regimes across Australia; and make a consequential amendment;

Criminal Code Act 1995

to extend criminal liability to the joint commission of criminal offences; and

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979

to enable telecommunications interception to be available for certain offences for state and territory law enforcement agencies.

to facilitate the integration of the Office of Film and Literature Classification into the Attorney-General’s Department; and

Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995

in relation to: the functions of the Classification Board and the Classification Review Board; the operation of the National Classification Scheme; repeal expired or redundant provisions; and transfer responsibility for delegated legislation from the Director of the Classification Board to the Attorney-General.

to implement recommendations from a number of copyright law reviews, including in relation to: new exceptions to copyright; creation of indictable, summary and strict liability offences with a range of penalty options; evidential presumptions; commercial-scale infringements; protection of digital files; fair dealings; copying for preservation purposes; and educational uses. Also implements Australia’s obligations under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in relation to technological protection measures; and enhances the jurisdiction and procedures of the Copyright Tribunal.